Calum Hood’s ORDER chaos ORDER: Finding Clarity in the Midst of Chaos

After fourteen years as the bassist of Australian pop-punk band 5 Seconds of Summer, Calum Hood has stepped into uncharted territory with his solo debut, ORDER chaos ORDER. Released on June 13th, the album feels like a deeply personal journey, exploring the push and pull between structure and emotional unraveling - order and chaos. Leaning into a blend of pop-rock, indie-pop and dizzying synth-pop sound, Calum manages to leave his unmistakable personal imprint. His debut album radiates authenticity, honesty and raw emotion, allowing listeners a glimpse into his personal moments and feelings, with intimate confessions forming a statement of who Calum Hood is - and what he has to offer.

The opener Don’t Forget You Love Me is not only the first single, it also sets the tone for the album. Opening with moody synths and confessional lyrics.

I’m crying my eyes out / And I’m sitting there wondering / If I want to be alive

Calum lays himself bare. This only intensifies as the track builds into soaring chorus, unraveling themes of self-condemnation and emotional disarray. Throughout the whole song, the hypnotic sound and Calum’s emotive voice pull listeners in with an undefinable force.

Call Me When You Know Better marks the second single and second track of ORDER chaos ORDER. Compared to the first single, the song leans into a subtle restrain. It explores unresolved connections and the blurred edges of miscommunication, while delving into self-perpetuating pity. Call Me When You Know Better is underpinned by Calum’s emotive voice, covered in vulnerability and holding himself accountable – to past and present relationships.

You’re burning down the house we’re living in (Be enough) / I never should’ve hurt you

Lyrics like this show the emotional duality and different perspectives coming in, drawing listeners into the depths of Calum’s inner world. Let’s be honest, we’re all absolutely here for it.

The third track of ORDER chaos ORDER is called Sweetdreams. Right from the start, listeners are indeed lulled into a dreamworld and soft vocals tell us about finding solace in vulnerability. Beneath Calum’s intimate reflections lie gentle synth sounds and soft guitar swirls.

I’m a little fragile when I’m drivin’ too fast (for the rest of my life) / Tunnel vision when I face subliminal crash / Each time that I sleep with the road beneath my head

The chorus linger in your head, gently cradled by delicate instrumentation and imprinted with Calum’s unmistakable signature sound.

The album continues with I Wanted To Stay. With a melancholic sound, the song gently unfolds, gradually drawing listeners deeper into its embrace. Lyrics and melody both feel equally important, with Calum delving into the ache of wanting to remain in someone’s life when it’s already too late. He empathizes this longing and emotional inertia in lyrics like:

When my body is breakin’ / I don’t wanna leave here alone / When my bed is vacant / I don’t wanna be here on my own and The night keeps swallowing another day / I love my baby, but I’m fading away / I wanted to stay / I wanted to stay.

The gentle rhythm and guitar embellishments add a certain warmth, all while preserving the delicate vulnerability of his vocals, making this song one of my favorites from the album.

Sunsetter is the fifth song of the Calum Hood’s debut solo album. Gentle guitar sounds paired with Calum’s emotive voice and layered harmonies create an intimate feeling from beginning to end. While it feels like a warm song, it contrasts with lyrics carrying an emotional weight reflecting on bittersweet farewells. It feels like personal song, even more personal than the others.

Just keep this dream alive / And don’t let it / You and I forever.

Someone better bring tissues for this one, especially if it really is about his dog Duke, as some fans believe.

Right from the first notes, Calum’s voice radiates a certain rawness and softness which perfectly mixes with tender sounds and mellow bass. Smoothly and softly building into the chorus, his song All My Affection feels like a confession, expressing a vulnerability and affection without knowing if it will be returned.

All my affection is all I have to lose / Wave me from off the street / Shelter me under your love

All My Affection feels like a love letter, with carefully chosen words pleading and hoping the receiver loves him back. There’s always some sense of longing and courage to open your heart up fully, despite the risks involved and Calum managed to perfectly transform it into an incredible song.

Endless Way marks the seventh track on the album. Starting off with a long instrumental part, the song is accompanied by a steady beat creating an atmosphere and cinematic scene. While the song feels sort of melancholic, it has a sense to optimism as well. It talks about walking through a fog, not seeing the other side but somehow there’s still a purpose to it. Endless Way reflects on the circle of self-discovery and emotional growth, with lyrics like the following being one of my favorites from ORDER chaos ORDER.

Let the back star guide you home / Where you find yourself in someone / You were there all along

Streetwise opens with rhythm-driven instrumentals as Calum reflects on about growing up too fast. The guitars are slightly distorted, with a certain tension adding to the feeling of dread of growing up, the difficulties and certain weariness. The song feels like being in a cinematic city setting, with muffled background and city lights blurring by. It’s like an emotional armor, the quiet strength someone builds when they’ve had to protect themselves over and over again.

I let my head spin / Take all the weight off my shoulders / It’s over

It hints at how growing up and being mature can sometimes mean wearing a mask that’s tough to take off, even when we want to.

It’s too late to be starting over / You’re already in my mind / When you keep me up at night / Dark circles under my eyes

Dark Circles marks the ninth and therefore pre-last track of the album. Calum delves into the exhaustion of emotional burnout, overthinking and depletion. The whole song carries a weight, Calum’s voice transferring a certain tiredness, intimacy and a raw tone to it. What makes the song special is it’s sort of stillness. There’s no climax, no sweeping chorus or cathartic release, yet it lingers in your mind and having yourself be confronted if you are really okay at pretending you’re okay.

Three of Swords is the last song of Calum Hoods debut solo album “ORDER chaos ORDER”. Remarkably, this song is yet again different from the rest, with being even more vulnerable and personal. It is stripped and raw, giving off a sense of intimacy. The beginning seems sort of hesitant, with no rhythmic push, making it feel sort of fragile.

A simple life for everything but us

This lyric suggests a worn-in sorrow, reflecting on a loss and confronting what was broken.

Did you imagine when we were younger / I wouldn’t see you for what felt like a thousand years / We put an expiration date on forever / Drifted into a mile high of in-betweens

It’s a song that speaks directly and doesn’t try to hide behind poetic interpretations. “Three of Swords” is also a tarot card, which represents heartbreak, emotional truth, and the difficult growth that comes after deep pain. This song holds that very essence, which is why it has quickly become one of my favorites on the album.

ORDER chaos ORDER swept me into a spiral, but in the good kind of way! Calum Hood has been writing songs for 5 Seconds of Summer for a very long time, but this solo journey feels different. Here, he bares his soul, sharing his struggles, emotions and imperfections with raw honesty and vulnerability. Each track unfolds like a chapter in a deeply personal, introspective story, and I felt captivated by it.

If you’d excuse me now, I’m going to get lost in this incredible album again (until Calum or 5 Seconds of Summer release another one).

- Calum Hood about his solo debut on his Instagram.

DON'T FORGET TO GIVE A LISTEN TO "ORDER chaos ORDER" YOURSELF RIGHT HERE:

On the 4th of June, the Unseen Mag also had the opportunity to attend the listening party of ORDER chaos ORDER in Berlin. Check out the review here.

PHOTOS

Photo 1: UMG

Photos 2: Press

Photo 3: Calum Hood Shop

Photos 4, 5, 6 & 7: Calum Hood Instagram

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